Department for Transport

Southern: Standards

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the Gibb Report on the Southern Rail franchise before the end of June 2017.

Paul Maynard: The Chris Gibb report was published by the Department for Transport on 22 June 2017. The report is now available on the GOV.UK website along with the Secretary of State’s response. Please see links provided: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/southern-rail-network-gibb-reportSoS response link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gibb-report-on-southern-rail-network-government-response

Railways: Ombudsman

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to bring forward proposals for a rail ombudsman.

Paul Maynard: I have been leading discussions with industry and consumer bodies about introducing a rail ombudsman that would improve the passenger voice in rail and provide independent binding resolution of complaints. Work on the detail of the scheme, which is being developed by a Task Force which includes the Rail Delivery Group, Transport Focus, London TravelWatch and the Office of Rail and Road, is progressing. I anticipate being in a position to provide a further update by the end of the summer when the work of the Task Force has been further developed.

Southern: Standards

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans to publish the Gibb report into the Southern Rail franchise.

Paul Maynard: The Chris Gibb report was published by the Department for Transport on 22 June 2017. The report is now available on the GOV.UK website along with the Secretary of State’s response. Please see links provided: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/southern-rail-network-gibb-reportSoS response link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gibb-report-on-southern-rail-network-government-response

Victoria Station: Emergencies

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether (a) his Department or (b) Network Rail have carried out a risk assessment on the ability to evacuate the concourse at London Victoria Station platforms 15 to 19 at peak time in an emergency.

Paul Maynard: Network Rail is responsible for carrying out safety risk assessments at Victoria Station. They do these as part of Crowd Control & Emergency Plans, in line with Network Rail’s Managed Stations Standards (MS). These are produced yearly as a minimum, but are also produced for special events and issues when they arise. Any incidents of crowd control or emergency evacuations are logged and recorded, and reported upon weekly to the Route Station Manager. Every incident has a post-incident debrief which is recorded and actions fed back into the plans.

Southern: Standards

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the reasons are for the time taken to publish the Gibb report into the Southern Rail franchise.

Paul Maynard: The Chris Gibb report was published by the Department for Transport on 22 June 2017. The report is now available on the GOV.UK website along with the Secretary of State’s response. Please see links provided: GOV.UK website link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/southern-rail-network-gibb-reportSoS response link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gibb-report-on-southern-rail-network-government-response As soon as we received the report, the Department assessed Chris Gibb’s technical recommendations against work or commitments that were already planned or underway. In early January we committed an extra £300m funding for Network Rail to boost the resilience of the infrastructure along the Brighton mainline and associated routes. The report could not be published during the pre-election period and we have published the report as soon as possible following the general election.

Southern: Standards

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish the report by Chris Gibb on the Southern rail franchise and the Government's response to that report.

Paul Maynard: The Chris Gibb report was published by the Department for Transport on 22 June 2017. The report is now available on the GOV.UK website along with the Secretary of State’s response. Please see links provided:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/southern-rail-network-gibb-reportSoS response link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gibb-report-on-southern-rail-network-government-response

Teddington Station: Lifts

Sir Vince Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether work on the Access for All lift provision at Teddington Station will be completed by the end of 2017-18.

Paul Maynard: Network Rail are currently working with stakeholders on how best to provide an accessible route at Teddington. That process is due to finish shortly and they will then be able to estimate when the project will be complete, but this should be no later than March 2020.

Crossrail 2 Line

Sir Vince Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what timetable the Government has for completion of Crossrail 2.

Paul Maynard: As with all transport scheme proposals a thorough analysis is being carried out by my department to ensure it is a robust scheme. This includes examining whether the National Infrastructure Commission’s detailed recommendations on the scheme have been taken into account. The next steps and timescales will therefore be decided as part of this analysis.

Transport: Franchises

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the total external costs of advisers and other bought-in items was to his Department for franchise specification and procurement for each year since 2010-11.

Paul Maynard: Prior to the re-launch of the Franchising Programme in spring 2013, the costs of different franchising projects were not individually recorded. Figures from April 2013 are as follows: YearCost (£M)2013/149.4612014/158.5442015/1614.6202016/1712.652 These figures include adviser costs (financial, technical and legal advisers) and VAT where applicable. The costs of procuring the current Intercity East Coast franchise (awarded 2015) were not charged to the public purse and are not included in the above figures (these costs were covered by the Performance Bond that National Express put forward following its default of the previous East Coast contract). Note that the sums invested in each re-franchising project are dwarfed by the (Resource) Support for Passenger Rail Services benefits to the Department from the re-franchising.

Transport: Franchises

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's internal staffing and administration costs were for franchise specification and procurement in each year since 2010-11.

Paul Maynard: Prior to the re-launch of the Franchising Programme in spring 2013, these costs were not broken down to individual team level. Figures from April 2013 are as follows: YearCosts (£M)2013/142.292014/152.202015/164.252016/174.74  This represents the staff costs of those in franchise project teams (including Contingent Labour where utilised), and administrative overheads where apportioned to these teams. The costs of procuring the current Intercity East Coast franchise (awarded 2015) were not charged to the public purse and are not included in the above figures (these costs were covered by the Performance Bond that National Express put forward following its default of the previous East Coast contract).

Southern: Standards

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the full report and recommendations of Chris Gibb's project board into rapid improvements of Southern Rail will be published.

Paul Maynard: The Chris Gibb report was published by the Department for Transport on 22 June 2017. The report is now available on the GOV.UK website along with the Secretary of State’s response. Please see links provided: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/southern-rail-network-gibb-reportSoS response link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gibb-report-on-southern-rail-network-government-response

Home Office

Skilled Workers and Vacancies

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what response her Department has made to the recommendations of the report entitled, Facing the future: tackling post-Brexit labour and skills shortages published in June 2017 by the CIPD and the National Institute for Economic and Social Research.

Brandon Lewis: The Government is considering options for our future immigration system very carefully. We will build a comprehensive picture of the needs and interests of all parts of the UK and look to develop a system which works for all.The UK will remain an open country; one that recognises the valuable contribution migrants make to our society and welcomes those with the skills and expertise to make our nation better still. We will control immigration so that we continue to attract the brightest and the best to work or study in Britain, but manage the process properly so that our immigration system serves the national interest.Parliament will have an important role to play in this and we will ensure businesses and communities have the opportunity to contribute their views.

Religious Buildings: Security

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of security at places of worship.

Sarah Newton: The government has made available to all crowded places, including places of worship, detailed on-line guidance to help locations understand their own protective security needs and to identify proportionate measures that they can take to reduce their vulnerability while remaining welcoming to worshippers. Many places of worship have also received bespoke security advice from specially trained police advisors.The places of worship security funding scheme was launched in July 2016 as one of the key actions in the Hate Crime Action Plan to help protect places of worship against hate crime by providing protective security measures, such as CCTV cameras, locks or fencing to places of worship.On the 22 June we announced an additional £1m will be made available for the protection of places of worship, this will further enable assessments of the adequacy of security available at places of worship. Details of how to apply for this funding will be published shortly.

Places of Worship Security Funding Scheme

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether other mosques have been awarded funding in addition to those announced in 2016 under the scheme for security funding for places of worship.

Sarah Newton: To date a total of 55 bids have been received for the second year, 25 of which have been from mosques. An independent advisory panel consisting of faith representatives, police and security advisors will meet on 3 July to consider the bids and recommend to the Home Office which bids to take forward.On the 22 June we announced an additional £1m will be made available for the protection of places of worship. Details of how to apply for this funding will be published shortly.

Hate Crime: Convictions

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents of hate crime resulted in convictions in (a) 2016 and (b) 2017.

Sarah Newton: The Home Office holds and publishes data on the number of hate crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales. Data on the number of these crimes that result in a conviction are not held by the Home Office. Convictions data are the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice.The most recently published data on hate crime by the Home Office is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hate-crime-england-and-wales-2015-to-2016This Government is committed to tackling hate crime. The UK has a strong legislative framework to tackle hate crime. We are working across Government with police, (including National Community Tensions Team), the Crown Prosecution Service and community partners to send out a clear message that hate crime will not be tolerated and we will vigorously pursue and prosecute those who commit these crimes.

Places of Worship Security Funding Scheme

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many places of worship chosen to benefit from the scheme for security funding for places of worship have had the work relating to that security completed; and what assessment her Department has made of the level of improvement in their security.

Sarah Newton: The first year of the scheme closed on 4 October 2016. 59 places of worship have been approved funding and security works have been completed on 53.Improvements in the security of places of worship were implemented following a full assessment by a Crime Prevention Design Adviser (CPDA) who makes an assessment of the physical vulnerabilities of the site. The Home Office Security Advisor has undertaken a number of spot-checks to ensure works have been completed to a satisfactory standard.

Places of Worship Security Funding Scheme

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications have been made to the scheme for security funding for places of worship since it was reopened early in 2017.

Sarah Newton: The places of worship security funding scheme opened on 3rd April and closed on 29 May 2017. 55 applications have been received. We also allowed late applications following recent attacks. We have announced this week that an additional £1m will be made available for the protection of places of worship. Details of how to apply for this funding will be published shortly.

Grenfell Tower: Fires

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will ensure that information provided by survivors of Grenfell Tower about residency or immigration status will not be used for criminal investigation or affect rehousing rights.

Brandon Lewis: We will make sure that all victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, irrespective of their immigration status, will be able to access the services they need, including accommodation and healthcare. We will not use this tragic incident as a reason to carry out immigration checks on those providing vital information to identify victims.

Radicalism: Birmingham

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to (a) monitor and (b) control increases in levels of (i) extremism and (ii) radicalised Islam in Birmingham.

Sarah Newton: The Government has significantly improved its understanding of the threat from all forms of extremism through the work of the Extremism Analysis Unit. The Counter Extremism Strategy sets out the action the Government is taking to tackle extremism wherever it occurs.Through the Prevent strand of the CONTEST counter-terrorism strategy we are safeguarding individuals who are vulnerable to radicalisation, and are currently working with over 80 civil society groups and statutory partners to build resilience in communities against radicalisation.

Visas: Married People

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Government plans to lift the suspension on the processing of certain applications for partner visas that was introduced as a result of the legal challenge to the minimum income requirement.

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for partner visas for which the additional fee for fast track service has been paid are affected by the suspension on processing applications as a result of the legal challenge to the Government's minimum-income requirement.

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many partner visa applications are affected by the suspension of processing applications as a result of the legal challenge to the Government's minimum income requirement.

Brandon Lewis: A temporary hold on decision-making in respect of some partner visa applications was introduced on 22 February so that the implications of the Supreme Court judgment handed down that day in MM (Lebanon) & Others could be considered.The partner visa applications affected are those under Appendix FM to the Immigration Rules which fall to be refused and which involve a child or do not meet the minimum income requirement. The temporary hold will be lifted once the judgment's findings have been addressed.

Visas: Married People

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to refund fast track payments made by applicants for partner visas where the processing of those applications has been suspended as a result of the legal challenge to the Government's minimum income requirement.

Brandon Lewis: A temporary hold on decision-making in respect of some partner visa applications was introduced on 22 February 2017 so that the implications of the Supreme Court judgment handed down that day in MM (Lebanon) & Others could be considered.UKVI communicated this to potential priority visa service customers on 27 February 2017 and will consider any refund requests from customers who paid the priority service fee for a settlement visa before 27 February 2017 and whose application was put on hold by the Home Office. These requests should be made via the usual enquiry helpline: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration/about/complaints-procedure#how-to-complainBoth UK Visas and Immigration and their commercial partners make clear in communications to customers that the priority visa service fee will not be refunded if the visa is refused or takes longer than the publicised processing times, other than in exceptional circumstances.

Radicalism

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will place in the Library a copy of her Department's report on foreign funding of extremism and radicalisation in the UK.

Sarah Newton: The review into the funding of Islamist extremism in the UK was commissioned by the former Prime Minister and reported to the Home Secretary and the Prime Minister in 2016. The review has improved the Government’s understanding of the nature, scale and sources of funding for Islamist extremism in the UK. Publication of the review is a decision for the Prime Minister.

A19: Accidents

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to increase patrols and speeding enforcement at accident blackspots on the A19.

Mr Nick Hurd: This is an operational matter for the police. How they enforce the law, including road traffic law and how available resources are deployed, are the responsibility of individual Chief Constables, taking into account the specific local problems and demands with which they are faced.

Police: Fraud

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many dedicated officers there are in each police force that specialise in fraud.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office does not hold the specific information requested.The Home Office collects data annually on the primary function of police officers. Under the functions framework there is no dedicated function for fraud. However, there is a dedicated function for officers working primarily on ‘Economic crime’, which includes officers working in financial investigation units, cheque and credit card fraud units, regional asset recovery teams, and other financial investigations.Officers with multiple responsibilities or designations are recorded under their primary function. The data do not therefore provide a complete picture of all officers who work on economic crime.Data on the number of officers working primarily on economic crime can be found in Table F4, under function 7c, of the ‘Police workforce’ statistics published in July 2016: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/544954/police-workforce-tabs-jul16.odsAny comparisons at force level should be made with care due to collaboration arrangements between forces for particular functions. Additionally, police functions data are often affected by re-structuring within police forces. Therefore comparisons over time may not be meaningful.

Police: Fraud

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to provide police forces with additional resources when handling complex fraud cases.

Mr Nick Hurd: Allocation of resources to specific areas of operational policing is a local matter for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and Chief Officers. While police forces should include within their policing and budget plans reasonable contingencies for unexpected events within their areas, if they face unexpected or exceptional events there is an established process by which PCCs can apply for Special Grant funding to help with these costs.

Visas

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much revenue was generated from visa applications that were denied in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Brandon Lewis: The Home Office does not collect this information as a matter of course, and therefore no data is held to enable us to provide a response.

Visas

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much revenue was generated by the premium visa service in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Brandon Lewis: Premium income generated overseas in 2016/2017 was £124,198,444.07. This represents the Premium element only and does not include the standard application fee. In-country Premium income for the same period was £133,851,555.00. This represents the combined income from the Premium fee and the standard application fee.

Police: Finance

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect of changes in the level of funding for police forces on those forces' ability to counter terrorism.

Mr Nick Hurd: This Government has protected Counter-Terrorism police spend in real terms over the Spending Review period and invested in counter-terrorism policing to grow key capabilities. The Government has also protected overall police spending, and is providing £144m to increase armed policing capability. We remain committed to increasing cross-government spending on counter-terrorism by 30% from £11.7 billion to £15.1 billion, including funding an additional 1,900 officers at our security and intelligence agencies. We have a constructive dialogue with policing about ensuring that the right powers, capabilities and resources are in place.

Airguns

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a requirement that air rifles should be kept in a locked cabinet; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Government keeps the legislation relating to air weapons in England and Wales under review. High-powered air weapons require a firearms licence and low-powered air weapons are already subject to a range of controls, such as the requirement that owners take reasonable precautions to prevent young people from gaining unauthorised access to air weapons. Guidance is published on the safe use and storage of air weapons and this can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/117804/air-weapons-safety-leaflet.pdf

Domestic Violence: Bail

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect of pre-charge bail reforms on the police's response to domestic abuse incidents.

Mr Nick Hurd: The provisions of Part 4 of the Policing and Crime Act 2017 allow the police to impose pre-charge bail, with appropriate conditions to protect victims and witnesses, in any case where they are satisfied that doing so is both necessary and proportionate. This was made clear in the learning material produced by the College of Policing. As such, the reforms to pre-charge bail should not affect the police’s response to incidents of domestic abuse or to subsequent investigations and we are working with the police to ensure that is the case.

Football: Racial Discrimination

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 25 January 2017 to Question 60970, whether there have been more (a) racist incidents and (b) banning orders than those referred to for 1 July 2015 to 10 July 2016.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office annually publishes statistics on football-related arrests and banning orders connected with regulated international and domestic football matches involving English and Welsh clubs and the national teams.The football-related arrests and banning orders, England and Wales: season 2015 to 2016 is the most recent publication on this area. The statistics stated in answer of 25 January 2017 to Question 60970 are the most up to date statistics the Home Office holds.This publication can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/football-related-arrests-and-banning-orders-england-and-wales-season-2015-to-2016The Home Office intends to publish figures on football-related arrests and banning orders, England and Wales: season 2016 to 2017 later this year.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Furniture: Fire Prevention

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he intends to respond to the consultation on Furniture and furnishings fire safety regulations: proposed changes, which closed on 11 November 2016.

Margot James: Revision of these regulations is technically complex and stakeholders hold a wide spectrum of views on the proposals that have been made. We will issue the Government response only after careful consideration of all 120 responses received. The Grenfell Tower fire highlights the need for public protection to remain our priority and we are now reviewing the proposed changes in the light of that tragic event.

Parental Leave

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will commission research to determine the take-up of shared parental leave; and if he will make a statement.

Margot James: We will evaluate Shared Parental Leave in 2018. We anticipate commissioning survey work to measure take-up as part of this evaluation.

Working Mothers

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the announcement made by his Department on 27 March 2017 on new guidance to support working mothers of premature babies, what progress has been made on drawing up of such guidance; and whether it is still the Government's policy to publish guidance for employers.

Margot James: The Government is committed to supporting working parents with premature babies. We are working with the Advisory, Conciliation & Arbitration Service (Acas) to produce best practice guidance for employers on how best to support working parents with babies born prematurely. We expect guidance to be published in the autumn.

Foreign Companies

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to introduce legislation on property ownership and public contracting by overseas companies and legal entities.

Margot James: The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is currently analysing responses to a call for evidence on a register showing who owns and controls overseas legal entities that own UK property or participate in UK Government procurement. Next steps will be outlined in the Department’s response to the call for evidence.

Foreign Companies

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to publish the outcome of the Government's consultation on property ownership and public contracting by overseas companies and legal entities.

Margot James: The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is currently analysing the responses to the call for evidence which closed on 15 May. The call for evidence received 56 responses from a wide range of stakeholders. The outcome will be published in due course.

Fuels: Prices

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to establish a regulatory body for fuel pricing.

Richard Harrington: I believe that it is essential that consumers get a fair deal and that falls in oil prices are passed on to lower retail prices. A competitive market is the best way to keep prices low. Fuel pricing is subject to UK competition law under the Competition and Markets Authority, and we do not believe that an independent body to regulate fuel pricing is necessary. The Department closely monitors average retail petrol and diesel prices and publishes these data regularly. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/oil-and-petroleum-products-weekly-statistics.

Hinkley Point C Power Station

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the planned date is for the Hinkley Point C reactor to start transmitting electricity to the National Grid; and whether the proposed contract for that reactor includes punitive measures for delay beyond that date.

Richard Harrington: EDF’s planned date to start transmitting electricity to the national grid is 2025. If EDF does not start generating four years after 2025, then there will be reductions to the contract term; this means that for every day that Hinkley Point C (HPC) is late, the period of time where EDF gets increased certainty on the price of its electricity will be reduced. If HPC is not generating electricity by 2033, there is an option in the contract to cancel the contract.

Foreign Investment in UK: Environment Protection

John McNally: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans the Government has to provide certainty of energy policy in order to attract green technology companies to the UK.

Richard Harrington: Clean growth is a key pillar of our industrial strategy. The low carbon sector already brings significant benefits to the UK, employing over 230,000 people directly and another 200,000 through supply chains. Within the sector, the UK has established world-leading expertise in several areas of green technology, including offshore wind and electric vehicles. Since 2012, over £56 billion has been invested in renewable energy generation in the UK. In 2016, one in five battery electric cars sold in the EU was made in the UK.Certainty for the UK’s energy policy is provided by several frameworks, including the Climate Change Act 2008. This established the UK’s 2050 target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% on 1990 levels and a supporting framework of five year carbon budgets.

Energy: Prices

John McNally: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government plans to take to ensure that reductions in energy bills do not affect commitments to emissions reductions.

Richard Harrington: This Government is committed to tackling climate change and to the UK’s Climate Change Act. On average, Government policies reduce household energy bills because energy efficiency measures mean that less energy is used, more than offsetting the costs other policies add to energy bills.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Venezuela: Politics and Government

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions the Government has had with the Venezuelan Government on the political situation in that country; and what recent discussions his Department has had with the Department for International Development on foreign aid for citizens of Venezuela.

Sir Alan Duncan: I met the Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Samuel Moncada, in his previous role as Minister for Europe on 26 October. We discussed the political, humanitarian and economic situation and I shared my concern about the Venezuelan Government's response to protests. In March, I hosted a delegation of Venezuelan MPs from the National Assembly and stressed the importance of an independent and empowered legislature. This was followed by my statement of 31 March echoing those views following a move by the Supreme Court to wrest power from from the National Assembly.During her visit to Caracas in early May, the then Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Minister for Human Rights, Baroness Anelay, met senior government and opposition figures to express our concerns about the political situation and the need to respect human rights.There have been no recent discussions between the FCO and Department for International Development about foreign aid for the citizens of Venezuela. However, on 12 May 2017, the UK joined EU member states in issuing a statement calling on the Venezuelan Government to allow access for external cooperation to meet the urgent needs of the population.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his counterpart in Iran on the decision of the Supreme Court in Iran not to free British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe; what steps he has taken to make sure Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe can see her lawyer; and what steps plans to take to ensure she is free.

Alistair Burt: ​On 17 February, the Foreign Secretary, discussed Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's case with the Iranian Foreign Minister. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family in Tehran have confirmed she has legal representation. The Iranian position on dual nationality makes progress difficult and we do not interfere with the legal systems of other countries. Nonetheless we will continue to raise her case with the Iranian authorities at the highest levels at every available opportunity, as I did in a telephone call with the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister on 21 June.

UN Human Rights Council

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's priorities are for the 35th session of the UN Human Rights Council; and if he will make a statement.

Boris Johnson: The UK is strongly committed to the protection and promotion of human rights worldwide. As such, the government's priority for all sessions of the UN Human Rights Council is to ensure that it holds those responsible for human rights violations and abuses to account, that it effectively addresses global threats to human rights, and that it strengthens safeguards and protections for the future.At the 35th session, the UK tabled a resolution on Syria, and supported resolutions on the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ukraine and Belarus. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Special Envoy for Gender Equality spoke at the annual full day discussion on human rights of women. The UK strongly supported the Council's important resolutions on violence against women; discrimination; child, early and forced marriage; and girls' education.

UN Human Rights Council: Reform

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's policy is on reform of the UN Human Rights Council; what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on potential reforms at the 35th session of the UN Human Rights Council; and if he will make a statement.

Boris Johnson: The Government strongly supports the Human Rights Council (HRC), the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and his Office in promoting and protecting human rights worldwide. The UK supports reform aimed at ensuring competitive HRC membership elections, as well as efforts to support and increase the capacity of Small States to strengthen engagement with the Council and its mechanisms. The UK also supports efforts to address Agenda Item 7's disproportionate focus on Israel, which does not improve the prospects for a two-state solution.

Sanctions

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he plans to publish a draft International Sanctions Bill.

Boris Johnson: Following publication on 21 April 2017 of the White Paper on the UK's future legal framework for imposing and implementing sanctions, we remained in a period of public consultation until the 23 June. We intend to provide a government response to the consultation before introduction of the Bill when parliamentary timetabling permits.

USA: UN Human Rights Council

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in the US on that country's membership of the UN Human Rights Council.

Boris Johnson: I have discussed the UN Human Rights Council with the US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, and stressed our appreciation for the US' contribution to the Council's work.

Cabinet Office

LGBT People

Catherine West: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the protection and promotion of LGBT rights was discussed at recent meetings with the leadership of the Democratic Unionist Party.

Damian Green: The Cabinet Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Human Rights: Females

Catherine West: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the protection and promotion of women's rights was discussed at recent meetings with the leadership of the Democratic Unionist Party.

Damian Green: The Cabinet Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Attorney General

Serious Fraud Office

Karl Turner: To ask the Attorney General, what the cost is of (a) running and (b) administering the Serious Fraud Office online reporting tool.

Jeremy Wright: During the financial year 2016/17, the SFO recorded expenditure of £21,943 for hosting its secure communications infrastructure. This supports one-off questionnaires for victims of specific, alleged frauds and secure communications with overseas partners, as well as the secure reporting tool. In addition, £450 for administration costs was incurred. This was for user licence fees attributable to accessing the secure reporting tool. These totals do not include any staff costs as this work is done alongside normal duties. The SFO does not hold accurate information on the time spent administering the system. Since its introduction, the SFO has continued to improve the functionality of the reporting tool to assist people in making more comprehensive reports about alleged fraud, bribery or corruption. The reporting tool also has the advantage of allowing referrers to make a report anonymously and in confidence without fear of reprisal. It is the main source of people reporting offences to the SFO. It has improved the way in which offences are reported by simplifying the method of doing so. It has also increased the security of those communications. In addition, it offers guidance on other organisations to contact for assistance if the matter falls outside the SFO’s remit.

Confiscation Orders

Karl Turner: To ask the Attorney General, with reference to the Answer of 20 April 2017 to Question 70644, on confiscation orders, how much has been collected as a result of confiscation orders obtained by the Crown Prosecution Service in the 2016-17 financial year.

Robert Buckland: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) collected £88,069,419 in the 2016-17 financial year in respect of confiscation orders where it was the Lead Enforcement Agency.Domestic confiscation orders, once obtained are enforced by Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS). The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) assists in the enforcement process in situations where it can add value, such as by managing restraint orders, seeking the appointment of enforcement receivers and, in relation to assets held overseas, seeking assistance from other jurisdictions. It is the Lead Enforcement agency in these cases. When the CPS can no longer add value to the enforcement of a confiscation order, the responsibility for enforcement reverts to HMCTS and the CPS no longer monitors its progress.The CPS only retains data on those orders in which it assists in the enforcement process. The latest data relates to March 2017.

Confiscation Orders

Karl Turner: To ask the Attorney General, with reference to the Answer of 20 April 2017 to Question 70644, on confiscation orders, what the outstanding debt is by Crown Prosecution Service Area.

Jeremy Wright: As of the 1 March 2017, the outstanding debt by CPS Area is set out in the table below:CPS AreaOutstanding DebtEastern£2,963,978East Midlands£6,112,440London£30,200,496Merseyside & Cheshire£2,200,543North East£3,269,540North West£9,622,411South East£9,193,325South West£3,953,153Thames & Chiltern£7,197,057Wales - Cymru£4,645,004Wessex£1,097,810West Midlands£14,005,735Yorkshire & Humberside£10,615,319Organised Crime Division£47,783,983Specialist Fraud Division£401,017,161Special Crime & Counter Terrorism Division£60,456Total£553,938,410Domestic confiscation orders, once obtained are enforced by Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS). The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) assists in the enforcement process in situations where it can add value, such as by managing restraint orders, seeking the appointment of enforcement receivers and, in relation to assets held overseas, seeking assistance from other jurisdictions. When the CPS can no longer add value to the enforcement of a confiscation order, the responsibility for enforcement reverts to HMCTS and the CPS no longer monitors its progress.The CPS only retains data on those orders in which it assists in the enforcement process. The latest data relates to March 2017.

Department for International Development

Venezuela: Overseas Aid

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what aid the UK has provided for the citizens of Venezuela in the past five years.

Rory Stewart: Details of all UK ODA can be found in the annual Statistics on International Development.

Department for Education

Schools: Finance

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to publish the results of the consultation on a national funding formula for schools which closed in April 2016.

Nick Gibb: We published our response to the first stage of our consultation on a national funding formula for schools in December 2016. The response to this consultation can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/schools-national-funding-formula. We also recently concluded the second stage of our consultation. We are considering the more than 25,000 responses we received to this consultation and will publish our response in due course. The second stage of the consultation can be found at https://consult.education.gov.uk/funding-policy-unit/schools-national-funding-formula2/.

Schools: Buildings

Sir Vince Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to review the relationship between the Education and Skills Funding Agency and local education authorities regarding the provision of sites for new schools; and if she will make a statement on the effectiveness of current arrangements for such provision.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Education and Skills Funding Agency works constructively with local authorities and often uses sites secured from them to build free schools. This has proved increasingly effective since the inception of the programme.

Nurseries: Standards

Jeff Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she plans to take to improve nursery care to ensure that all children are ready for school age at five.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The latest results from the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Profile show that the number of children who have achieved a good level of development at the end of reception is increasing year on year: 69.3% of children achieved a good level of development in 2016, compared to 66.3% in 2015, 60.4% in 2014 and 51.7% in 2013. The evidence is clear that a high quality workforce has a significant impact on the quality of provision and outcomes for children. The Government published the Early Years Workforce Strategy in March 2017 to support the development of a well-qualified workforce with the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience. Further information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-workforce-strategy The strategy sets out:actions we will take to improve the quality of early years training and access to continuous professional development; andfunding to support the sector to develop quality improvement support in partnership with schools and local authorities. We are also exploring the content of the early learning goals and how the EYFS Profile might be improved to better assess a child’s level of development at the end of the early years, through the Department’s recent consultation on assessment arrangements in reception (part of the wider Primary Assessment Consultation). The consultation closed on 22 June, and a Government response will be issued in due course.

Ministry of Justice

Confiscation Orders

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much debt, including interest, remains outstanding under confiscation orders obtained where HM Courts and Tribunals Service has the lead enforcement role; and what recent estimate he has made of how much of that debt is recoverable.

Dominic Raab: The information requested is published in the in HM Courts and Tribunals Service annual Trust Statement for 2015/16 which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hm-courts-tribunals-service-trust-statement-2015-to-2016. Updated figures for 2016/17 will be published shortly.

Hull Prison

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners are serving public protection sentences at HM Prison Hull.

Mr Sam Gyimah: As at 31 March 2017, the number of prisoners serving sentences of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) in HM Prison Hull was 53. The independent Parole Board will direct the release of an IPP prisoner who has completed his minimum term (tariff) only where it is satisfied that it is no longer necessary for the prisoner to be detained in custody on the grounds of public protection.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Olympic Games

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to ensure that the UK Olympic team is referred to as Team UK rather than Team GB.

Tracey Crouch: The British Olympic Association is responsible for the trading name and branding of the Olympic team representing Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and the UK Overseas Territories.

Culture, Practices and Ethics of the Press Inquiry

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to publish her response to her Department's consultation on the Leveson Inquiry and its implementation; and if she will make a statement.

Matt Hancock: The government is currently considering over 140,000 responses to the consultation on the Leveson Inquiry and its implementation.

Mass Media: Legal Costs

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to repeal section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013.

Matt Hancock: The government is currently considering over 140,000 responses to the consultation on this issue.

Charities: Lobbying

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the effect of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 on the work of charities.

Tracey Crouch: The changes made to the existing third party campaigning rules by the Transparency of Lobbying Act 2014 do not restrict charities’ freedom to campaign to further their charitable purposes in a non-partisan way, but instead make the political system more accountable. At the 2015 general election, 68 organisations were registered with the Electoral Commission as third party campaigners undertaking campaigning activity which could influence the election outcome, of which 11 were charities.

Culture: EU Grants and Loans

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government plans to continue to participate in Creative Europe when the UK leaves the EU.

Matt Hancock: Leaving the EU means we will want to take our own decisions about how to deliver the policy objectives previously targeted by EU funding. We are discussing closely with stakeholders all EU funding schemes, to ensure that any ongoing funding commitments best serve the UK‘s national interest.

Department for Work and Pensions

Personal Independence Payment: Glasgow East

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Glasgow East constituency have transitioned from disability living allowance to personal independence payments in the last 12 months.

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people are in receipt of disability living allowance payments in Glasgow East constituency.

Penny Mordaunt: The latest available parliamentary constituency data on Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claims in payment and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) clearances split by Clearance type for DLA reassessment claims can be found at https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore can be found here: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html.

Carer's Allowance: Glasgow East

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people are in receipt of carer's allowance in Glasgow East constituency.

Penny Mordaunt: The information requested on the number of individuals in receipt of Carer’s Allowance by parliamentary constituency is published and available at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk Guidance for users is available at: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html

Parents: Education

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the then Prime Minister's speech on Life Chances on 11 January 2016, when the Government expects to implement the significant expansion in parenting programmes.

Caroline Dinenage: In April 2017 we published the Improving Lives: Helping Workless Families paper which outlined the actions we plan to take in supporting the most vulnerable families.This included the launch of an innovative new programme to address parental conflict as this is a critical influence on the quality of parenting. Children exposed to frequent, intense and poorly resolved conflict between parents are at greater risk of poor social, emotional and cognitive outcomes. The new programme will support the use of evidence-based interventions to reduce parental conflict, delivered by specialist organisations at a local level. This will transform lives by supporting parents, whether they are together or separated.

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to decide on the extension of the yellow card early warning system for benefit sanctions across the UK

Damian Hinds: The Department published the interim findings of our JSA Early Warning Sanctions Trial in December 2016 and we expect the full evaluation later this summer. We will consider the findings from both reports before making decisions on any future roll-out.

Department for Work and Pensions: Buildings

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to publish the outcome of his Department's review of the DWP estate, including jobcentres; and if he will make a statement.

Damian Hinds: The Department intends to confirm its plans for the DWP estate soon and will make a statement in due course.

Work Capability Assessment

Mrs Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when his Department plans to cease work capability reassessments for employment and support allowance claimants with the most severe health conditions and disabilities where the condition is unlikely to improve; and if he will make a statement.

Penny Mordaunt: This change will come into effect in autumn 2017 and will apply to those placed in Employment and Support Allowance’s Support Group and the Universal Credit equivalent. Whilst the new criteria and process for this group of claimants is developed, we do not plan to reassess claimants who had the most severe health conditions or disabilities when they had their first Work Capability Assessment. We are currently working with stakeholders to develop the new criteria and, when finalised, we will revisit this group to confirm the position, but we expect this will not require a face-to-face assessment.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Food: Manufacturing Industries

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support his Department is providing for the food manufacturing sector to mitigate the effect of EU workforce shortages.

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support his Department is providing to the farming sector to mitigate the effect of EU workforce shortages.

George Eustice: Employers in the sectors are free to continue to recruit EU workers to meet their labour needs, and we remain closely engaged with the industry to ensure that we are informed of their latest intelligence on labour demand. The Home Office intends to commission the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to better understand the reliance on EU migrant workers across the economy and consider the UK’s labour market needs. In the longer-term, the Government is considering the options for our future immigration system very carefully. We are looking to develop a system which works for all, and will ensure that businesses and communities have the opportunity to contribute their views.

Litter: Drinks

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page 34 of the Government's Litter Strategy for England published in April 2017, whether the timeline for his Department's Working Group on Voluntary and Economic Incentives Reduce Litter to consider the advantages and disadvantages of different types of deposit and reward and return schemes for drinks containers, and to produce advice by the end of 2017, still stands.

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page 34 of the Government's Litter Strategy for England published in April 2017, if he will provide regular updates to Parliament on the progress of discussions of his Department's Working Group on Voluntary and Economic Incentives to Reduce Litter considering the advantages and disadvantages of different types of deposit and reward and return schemes for drinks containers.

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page 79 of the Government's Litter Strategy for England published in April 2017, if he will publish the membership  of his Department's Working Group on Voluntary and Economic Incentives Reduce Litter.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: In line with civil service guidance, work to establish the Working Group was paused during the recent pre-election period. Defra officials will be establishing the Working Group soon, with the aim of the Group providing advice to Ministers in the new year. Once the Working Group has been established, I will write to the hon. Member with details of its membership and place a copy in the library of the House

Department for Communities and Local Government

High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that residential buildings of 10 storeys and higher are re-inspected to ensure that fire regulations are being complied with.

Alok Sharma: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Business Premises: Planning Permission

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to assess the implications of the Grenfell Tower tragedy for limiting the use of permitted development rights to convert tall office buildings into residential accommodation.

Alok Sharma: This is a matter for consideration as we take forward our work on fire safety.The safety of tower block residents is paramount. The Government is asking all landlords of high rise buildings (including those in the private sector) to take action to check cladding and to act on interim safety advice. We have made our government funded testing process available to private residential building owners so that landlords can quickly check the safety of their cladding, take the necessary action and reassure their residents that they are safe in their homes.

High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when the review of fire regulations and safety in tower blocks following the fire at Lakanal House in Lambeth began; who has been consulted in that review; and whether the review was delayed or postponed after it began.

Alok Sharma: The Department has been working on a wide ranging review of Building Regulations, including fire safety issues and including simplifying the guidance, as recommended by the Coroner. We are considering the best way to take forward this work in the light of the Grenfell Tower fire.

Planning: Fees and Charges

Sir Vince Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when the planned 20 per cent increase in planning fees will be implemented.

Alok Sharma: An announcement will be made in due course.

Department for Communities and Local Government: Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 6 March 2017 to Question 64994, on procurement, what estimate he has made of the amount spent on procurement management by his Department in each year since 2010.

Mr Marcus Jones: We have interpreted the question in relation to the cost of individuals with contract management responsibility in the Department.This information is not held centrally and contract management is only part of the job of the individuals concerned and in general is not a specific role. We therefore cannot provide a cost as the amount of time required to manage each contract would vary according to the complexity of the contract and the grades of the individuals involved.

Revenue Support Grant

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans the Government has to review the indicative allocation of the revenue support grant for 2018-19 and 2019-20.

Mr Marcus Jones: In 2016-17 we offered local authorities a 4-year settlement that guarantees their allocations for Revenue Support Grant, Rural Services Delivery Grant and Transition Grant, and that Business Rates top up and tariff payments will not change to reflect changes in relative needs. The 4-year settlement has been accepted by 97 per cent of all eligible local authorities, enabling improved planning of service delivery and transformation and more effective collaboration with local partners. We will bring forward specific proposals for how we implement this deal for 2018-19 and 2019-20 in due course.

High Rise Flats: Fire Extinguishers

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will publish all assessments carried out into the costs of retrofitting sprinklers in high-rise, multi-occupied residential buildings since 2013.

Alok Sharma: No central assessment has been carried out. The costs will vary widely based on the size and age of buildings. Local authorities may have commissioned separate assessments into the costs involved following the Government’s request in 2013 to social housing providers that they consider installing sprinklers into older residential tower blocks.

High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether Reynobond PE aluminium panels are banned for use as cladding on high-rise residential tower blocks in the UK.

Alok Sharma: Cladding using a composite aluminium panel with a polyethylene core would be non-compliant with current Building Regulations guidance, if used as cladding on buildings over 18 metres in height.

Grenfell Tower: Fires

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if his Department will allocate additional funding to the relevant local authority to support the mental health of people affected by the Grenfell Tower fire.

Alok Sharma: I refer the rt Hon Member to the answers today to Questions UIN 441 and UIN 443.Other support announced by the Government includes a £5 million Grenfell Tower Residents’ Discretionary Fund to help pay for the immediate financial needs of those affected, which we will keep under review

Ministry of Defence

Forthside Barracks

Stephen Kerr: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plan and timetable his Department has for the sale of the Forthside Barracks site.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: As announced in November 2016, as part of the estate optimisation strategy "A Better Defence Estate", the Ministry of Defence intends to release the Forthside Barracks site in 2022.

Military Bases: Plymouth

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to dispose of (a) Stonehouse Barracks and (b) the Royal Citadel in Plymouth.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: As announced in November 2016, as part of the estate optimisation strategy "A Better Defence Estate", the Ministry of Defence intends to dispose of Stonehouse Barracks by 2023 and the Royal Citadel by 2024.

Warships: Shipbuilding

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the National Shipbuilding Strategy has been written; and when his Department plans to publish that strategy.

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to publish the National Shipbuilding Strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Harriett Baldwin: The Government is committed to publishing a National Shipbuilding Strategy. The Strategy will be published in due course.

Ministry of Defence: Equality

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has to publish new strategic equality objectives.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Department is currently undertaking a review of its diversity and inclusion strategy. Following the outcome of the review, new strategic equality objectives will be published in autumn 2017.

Submarines: Decommissioning

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the reduction in SSN submarines from seven to six will have on the Navy's capabilities.

Harriett Baldwin: The UK's attack submarines are meeting all of their operational tasking, deploying globally on operations and protecting our national interests. They will continue to do so through the planned transition between the current Trafalgar Class and new Astute Class submarines.I am withholding further information on submarine operations as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

ISTAR

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of reducing the number of Sentinel aircraft on the RAF's ISTAR capabilities.

Harriett Baldwin: There is no effect on the RAF's intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities. The current level of operational tasking for the Sentinel Force remains unchanged.

HM Treasury

European Investment Bank

Hilary Benn: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his Mansion House speech of 20 June 2017, what discussions he has had with the European Investment Bank in the last three months.

Elizabeth Truss: The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the UK Governor of the European Investment Bank and meets with his European counterparts on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues; including how the UK can provide assurances to sustain the flow of EIB and EIF funding to UK businesses and projects.

Taxation: British Overseas Territories

Frank Field: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to improve corporate and tax transparency in the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.

Mel Stride: The UK Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories are separate jurisdictions with their own democratically elected governments under which they are responsible for fiscal matters. However, all Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories with a financial centre are committed to agreed global standards on tax transparency and transparency of beneficial ownership information.

Productivity

Jim Shannon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the potential effect on the level of UK GDP of the UK leaving the EU prior to the conclusion of any deal with the EU.

Elizabeth Truss: Government has undertaken a significant amount of work to assess the economic impacts of leaving the EU. This is part of our continued programme of rigorous and extensive analytical work on a range of scenarios on a sector by sector basis. All departments need to prepare not just for a negotiated settlement, but also for the no deal scenario. We are confident that we will secure a good deal for the UK, but are prepared should there be no deal.

Tobacco: Smuggling

Chris Ruane: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of illegal cigarettes sold in the UK in each of the last 10 years.

Mel Stride: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) estimate the volume of illicit cigarettes consumed in the UK. This information is available in the tobacco tax gap tables at table 1.2 at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tobacco-tax-gap-estimates

Motor Vehicles: Insurance

Dan Jarvis: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 27 April 2017 to Question 71682, what plans the Government has to review its policy on insurance premiums.

Stephen Barclay: As a rule, insurers use their claims experience and other industry-wide statistics to assess the risks posed by an individual and set the terms and price at which they will offer insurance cover. Insurers make an assessment of risk based on the likelihood of the individual making a claim and the potential cost of that claim. However, the Government remains concerned about the impact on motor insurance premiums from the continuing high number and cost of whiplash claims. This is why we committed in the Queen’s Speech to take firm action to reform the whiplash claims process and reduce the financial burden on consumers.

EU Grants and Loans

Dan Jarvis: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the Government will create a shared Prosperity Fund to replace EU economic aid.

Ian Murray: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans are in place to replicate or replace EU funding streams from the European Structural and Investment Funds; and when steps will be taken to ensure such funding is in place prior to the expiry of the current programming period in 2020.

Elizabeth Truss: The government has provided a guarantee for all European Structural and Investment Fund projects signed before the UK leaves the European Union (EU), providing they are value for money and in line with domestic priorities, including where those projects continue beyond the UK’s departure from the EU. The government’s manifesto committed to create a UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Further details on the Shared Prosperity Fund will be set out in due course.

Revenue and Customs: Staff

Chris Stephens: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his Answer of 13 April 2017 to Question 70785, what plans he has to fill the vacancies in HMRC Minimum Wage Compliance Unit; and if he will make a statement.

Mel Stride: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) enforce the National Minimum Wage (NMW) in line with the law and policy set out by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The Government is determined that everyone who is entitled to the NMW receives it. All HMRC vacancies for NMW staff are advertised through civil service jobs and recruited in line with the civil service resourcing policy. HMRC makes full use of the budget allocation it receives from BEIS for current and future NMW recruitment. No announcements are planned in relation to this.

Children: Day Care

Tulip Siddiq: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of parents who will sign up for Tax-Free Childcare in 2017-18.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average call response time was to calls made to the Tax-Free Childcare helpline in (a) May and (b) June 2017.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many parents have signed up for the Tax-Free Childcare scheme to date.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many childcare providers have signed up to provide Tax-Free Childcare to date.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many phonecalls HM Revenue and Customs has received from parents and childcare providers on Tax-Free Childcare to date.

Elizabeth Truss: As of 22 June 2017, the Tax-Free Childcare helpline has answered over 80,000 phone calls from parents and over 40,000 calls from childcare providers. The average call response time is 4 seconds.As of 22 June 2017 almost 50,000 parents had successfully applied for Tax-Free Childcare and over 40,000 childcare providers had signed up. At Budget 2017, the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast that there would be 790,000 families using TFC by the end of 2017/18.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Immigration Controls

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Mansion House speech of 20 June 2017, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) types and (b) cost of any new technology that needs to be deployed for customs border arrangements after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Steve Baker: As we look to build our future customs relationship with the EU and the rest of the world, we start from a strong position. As a large trading nation, we possess a world-class customs system which handles imports and exports from all over the world, and not just the EU.The government is seeking a mutually beneficial customs agreement and is committed to securing the most frictionless trading relationship possible.As part of this, HM Treasury and HMRC are giving due consideration to the implementation requirements of any options for the UK’s future customs arrangements. This includes the costs associated with updating IT systems to ensure we have a fully functioning customs regime following our exit from the EU.The UK’s Customs Authority already works hard to ensure that trade is as fast and frictionless as possible and was ranked 5th globally in the World Bank’s 2016 Logistics Performance Index on Customs.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Staff

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the Answer of 20 February 2017 to Question 63690, how many full-time equivalent staff his Department has.

Mr Robin Walker: The Department is recruiting the brightest and the best from across the civil service, the wider public sector and the private sector. The Department for Exiting the European Union now has over 450 staff, and is growing fast.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Staff

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what the total number of (a) secondees and (b) contractors from the private sector is in his Department.

Mr Robin Walker: The department has sourced a large proportion of experienced staff from across Whitehall and a number of secondees and contractors from the private sector and the wider public sector. We are not in a position to give a final total for particular groups of staff as recruitment is ongoing and numbers are regularly changing.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Staff

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what estimate his Department has made of the number of officials it has yet to recruit which it requires for the negotiations on the UK leaving the EU.

Mr Robin Walker: The Department undertakes regular resource reviews to ensure that we are appropriately resourced to deal with the task at hand. We will ensure we have the right skills to get the best deal for the UK. The Department is recruiting the brightest and the best from across the civil service, the wider public sector and the private sector. The Department for Exiting the European Union now has over 450 staff, and is growing fast.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Females

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what proportion of his senior negotiating team are women.

Mr Steve Baker: The Department for Exiting the European Union has released information on the composition of the UK's senior negotiating team which is publicly available on GOV.UK. The senior civil servants, at grades SCS2 and above, who took part in the first round of the negotiations on 19 June 2017 are set out below. DExEU is drawing together expertise from a wide range of departments where there is specific relevant knowledge. Oliver Robbins, DExEUSir Tim Barrow, UKRepGlyn Williams, Home OfficeAlex Ellis, DExEUMark Bowman, HMTSimon Case, UKRepJonathan Black, HMTChris Jones, DExEUCatherine Webb, DExEUCatherine Adams, DExEUDaniel Denman, DExEUMatt Baugh, DExEUIan Walsh, DWP

Borders: Northern Ireland

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment he has made of the effect of withdrawing from the single market on the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Mr Robin Walker: The Government was clear in its White Paper that we aim to have as seamless and frictionless a border as possible between Northern Ireland and Ireland. There is a very strong commitment from the UK and Irish Governments to find a practical solution that recognises the unique circumstances on the land border between Northern Ireland and Ireland. We welcome the European Council’s commitment to develop flexible and imaginative solutions, and the establishment of a dialogue between the UK and EU Commission to discuss this issue.

Brexit

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the Answer of 30 March 2017 to Question 69306, for what reason he believes the information requested would undermine the ability to negotiate the best possible deal for Britain.

Mr Robin Walker: The Department for Exiting the European Union, working with officials across Government, continues to undertake a wide range of analysis to support our negotiations. Our work covers the breadth of the UK economy, and we are looking in detail at more than 50 sectors as well as areas of cross-cutting regulation. Parliament has agreed that we will not publish anything that would undermine the Government’s ability to negotiate the best deal for Britain. Now, that the Prime Minister has initiated the Article 50 process and negotiations have begun in earnest, I can confirm that we will shortly be publishing the list of sectors we have been examining - though this of course does not mean that we have changed our position on revealing information which may harm our negotiating position.

Department for International Trade

Trade Agreements

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the timetable is for trade negotiations formally to commence with non-EU countries.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what estimate his Department has made of the number of trade agreements it will plan to commence with non-EU countries.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the timetable is for concluding trade negotiations with non-EU countries.

Greg Hands: As the Prime Minister has said, we want to build a truly Global Britain that is one of the firmest advocates for free trade anywhere in the world. We cannot initiate or conclude negotiations on trade agreements while we remain a member of the EU. We are considering our future trading relationships with all our partners as we prepare to leave the EU. Ministers and officials in the Department for International Trade are working closely with counterparts across a wide range of markets in order to promote the UK as a great place to do business and with which to trade.

Department of Health

NHS: Buildings

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether all hospitals and NHS buildings are fully compliant with fire and building regulations; and if he will ensure that all NHS properties will be checked and signed-off as safe.

Mr Philip Dunne: National Health Service organisations in England are locally responsible for the safety of their estate, including in relation to fire. The Department publishes comprehensive and up to date guidance on fire safety, including the ‘Firecode’ suite of Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) documents, to support NHS organisations in England to comply with legislation relating to fire safety:HTM 05-01: Managing healthcare fire safety: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/managing-healthcare-fire-safetyHTM 05-02: Firecode Guidance in support of functional provisions (Fire safety in the design of healthcare premises): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-in-support-of-functional-provisions-for-healthcare-premisesHTM 05-03: Fire safety measures for health sector buildings: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/suite-of-guidance-on-fire-safety-throughout-healthcare-premises-parts-a-to-mFire safety is taken extremely seriously in the NHS and because of the professionalism and dedication of staff across the entire NHS estate, the number of fire incidents is extremely low, given the complexity and size of the health estate (about 25 million square metres of occupied floor area) and its level of clinical activity.To ensure that the lessons from the Grenfell Tower fire incident are learned, the Department is working with all NHS organisations to ensure that any appropriate action is taken as soon as possible.

Tobacco

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when his Department plans to publish the updated Tobacco Control Plan; and if he will make a statement.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Government will publish the Tobacco Control Plan.

Steve Brine: The Government is developing a new tobacco control plan, which will be published shortly.

Dental Services: Contracts

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made on the rollout of a new contract to dental care providers.

Steve Brine: The Department is working in conjunction with NHS England to test a prototype new dental contract with an increased focus on prevention. The remuneration system is designed to better support dentists to prevent as well as treat disease and maintain the numbers of patients they care for. The trial of the new clinical and remuneration approach began in April 2016 with prototype practices across England testing the new way of working. The scheme is being evaluated and the substantive report on the scheme to date is expected to be available later this year. Decisions on next steps and any wider roll out will be based on the learning from the prototype scheme.

Abortion

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the Government's policy is on changing the law on abortion in (a) England and Wales and (b) Northern Ireland.

Jackie Doyle-Price: As with other matters of conscience, abortion is an issue on which the Government adopts a neutral stance and allows Members to vote according to their moral, ethical or religious beliefs. The Abortion Act does not apply to Northern Ireland. Health, and by extension abortion law in Northern Ireland, is a transferred matter and is the responsibility of Northern Ireland Executive Ministers.

NHS: Finance

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, who in his Department has lead responsibility for the new capped expenditure process in the NHS.

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when final plans for savings in each local area affected by the new capped expenditure process in the NHS will be agreed; who has final responsibility for agreeing those plans; and when and by whom those final plans will be made public.

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when and by whom the decision was taken to introduce the new capped expenditure process in the NHS; and how that decision was communicated to (a) NHS provider bodies and (b) patients and the public.

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance has been issued by (a) his Department, (b) NHS England and (c) NHS Improvement on the new capped expenditure process in the NHS; and if he will publish that guidance.

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which local health economies will be subject to the NHS capped expenditure process; and how the decision was reached as to which local health economies will be included in that process.

Mr Philip Dunne: The National Health Service and wider health system has examined how to sustain and improve care – which produced the NHS Five Year Forward View. The Government committed to providing an additional £10 billion in real terms by 2020-21 to back the NHS’ plan, enabling it to deliver key priorities like seven day care, improved access to cancer treatments and better mental health services. Since then, this Government has committed to increase NHS spending by a minimum of £8 billion in real terms over the next five years, and for the first time to deliver an increase in real funding per head of the population for every year of the parliament. As with all public services, the NHS needs to live within the budget agreed. As the NHS itself has said, it is unfair if a small number of areas in effect take more than their fair share of that budget at the expense of other people’s hospital services, general practitioner care and mental health clinics elsewhere in the country. Although financial performance across the NHS has significantly improved over the past year, a few areas have not yet finalised their plans to keep within their budget, as the NHS is required to by the 2017/18 Government Mandate.

Patients' Rights

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to protect and promote patient's rights under the NHS constitution in those areas affected by the new NHS capped expenditure process.

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of potential changes to NHS expenditure resulting from the new capped expenditure process arising from (a) limiting the number of operations carried out by non-NHS providers, (b) drawing out waiting times for planned care, (c) stopping NHS funding for some treatments, (d) closing wards and theatres and reducing staffing, (e) closing or downgrading services, including emergency or maternity units, (f) selling estate and other property-related transactions and (g) stopping prescriptions for some items.

Mr Philip Dunne: The National Health Service is required to meet its operational standards as set out in the mandate and ensure access to appropriate care for all, in line with the NHS constitution. It is right that the NHS should consider efficiency savings such as reducing delayed transfers of care, reducing running costs, or reviewing treatments that are of low clinical effectiveness – because this improves patient care overall.

Grenfell Tower: Fires

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proactive steps (a) his Department and (b) NHS England are taking to ensure adequate provision of mental health support for people affected by the Grenfell Tower fire.

Jackie Doyle-Price: NHS England (London’s) mental health response to the Grenfell Tower Fire has been a stepped approach which is designed to enable people affected to return to normal life as early as possible using existing support mechanisms. We are committed to ensuring that the right support is available at every stage.

Grenfell Tower: Fires

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the number of (a) adults and (b) children who are (i) experiencing or (ii) likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder, depression or other mental health problems as a result of the Grenfell Tower fire.

Jackie Doyle-Price: NHS England (London) is working with Professor Chris Brewin, professor of clinical psychology at University College London who worked extensively with people suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder following the 7/7 incidents. In the first days of a major incident the focus is on providing support to enable people to talk about their experience and their fears and to help them to feel safe. NHS England (London) will be assessing exact numbers when we have accurate figures on the numbers of people affected.

Grenfell Tower: Fires

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if his Department will allocate additional funding to the local mental health trust to strengthen provision of mental health support for people affected by the Grenfell Tower fire.

Jackie Doyle-Price: NHS England (London) is working with the local clinical commissioning group and provider to make sure any necessary support is provided.

Grenfell Tower: Fires

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what specific steps his Department is taking to support the mental health of people who have experienced bereavement as a result of the Grenfell Tower fire.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Local Authority is responsible for allocating a lead social care worker to the bereaved. Every Grenfell Tower resident has been allocated a key worker to provide wrap around care. Cruse bereavement support, a leading national charity, is also available for the bereaved. To co-ordinate the local response a central command centre was set up by government on 16th June, led by the chief executive of the City of London Corporation and the chief executive of the London Borough of Southwark Council.

Teachers: First Aid

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on mental health first aid training for teachers.

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding his Department plans to make available for mental health first aid training for all school teachers by the end of the Parliament in (a) 2017-18, (b) 2018-19, (c) 2019-20, (d) 2020-21 and (e) 2021-22.

Jackie Doyle-Price: We are committed to offering Youth Mental Health First Aid training to a teacher in every secondary school by 2019 and to reach 1,000 schools by the end of 2017. The Government’s manifesto includes a commitment to offer this training to all schools, including primary schools. We have made £200,000 available in 2017/18 to train the first 1,000 teachers in 2017 and we will work with Mental Health First Aid England to agree funding for future years.

Nurses: Recruitment

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many new nurses have been employed in each NHS hospital trust in the last 12 months.

Mr Philip Dunne: The information is not available in the format requested.NHS Digital collects data on headcount joiners to NHS trusts and clinical commissioning groups in England, by nationality and age. Latest data is available as at March 2017 and available at:www.digital.nhs.uk/media/31235/HCHS-staff-in-NHS-Trusts-and-CCGs-in-England-March-2017/xls/hchs-trst-ccg-org-job-type-mar-2017 Joiners data shows people joining active service, this would include those returning from maternity leave or career break, for example.